Junior Firpo has surely played last game for Leeds United after Daniel Farke update
Junior Firpo may well have played his last game for Leeds United after Daniel Farke’s injury update on Friday (1 December).
The Whites boss shared an update in his pre-match press conference on 1 December, that the Dominican Republic international defender is currently nursing a hamstring issue picked up in the 3-1 win over Swansea and will be out for up to three weeks.
The former Real Betis defender has been restricted to just one start all campaign because of injury and only returned to the Whites matchday squad in their 1-0 win over Leicester City before starting against Rotherham (24 November).
However, in a fresh blow for Firpo, it seems his 10-minute cameo against Swansea on Wednesday (29 November) could well be his last in a Leeds United shirt with the interest in his services ramping up ahead of the January transfer window.
Foot Mercato journalist Santi Aouna reported on 28 November that his former club Real Betis are pursuing a loan deal for the left-back in January with Manuel Pellegrini keen on bringing him back to Seville.
It is said Firpo wants to leave Elland Road in the winter and Betis want to bring him in on an initial loan deal, just like they did with Marc Roca in the summer.
The 27-year-old looked set to leave in the summer before suffering an injury that put an end to any exit rumours, and after finally recovering from that problem he has come back into the side under Farke.
The Leeds United left-back has only just returned to full fitness after a spell out of action but given the form of Sam Byram in his position, it’s not wholly out of the question that the Dominican Republic international seeks a move away from Elland Road.
Firpo played the best football of his career at Betis but it has not quite worked out for him at Elland Road ever since his transfer to West Yorkshire in the summer of 2021, going on to make 54 appearances, registering two goals and four assists [Transfermarkt].
It’s clear the defender wants a return to Betis where he made his name and given he’s out of action for a few weeks, Farke may well have settled on a consistent back-line by the time Firpo returns which certainly means he may not feature again at Elland Road.
A January exit now looks a serious possibility.
In other Leeds United news, Tom Cairney slammed Struijk for a “terrible” moment in the Whites’ win over Swansea City